Adam Azim vs Franck Petitjean – Results & Post-Fight Report

Boxxer promoted a show at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall, and Adam Azim captured the European super lightweight title with a tenth round stoppage of Franck Petitjean.

Azim had set tongues wagging after a string of spectacular early wins, but his last two performances had seen a more disciplined fighter, having to go the full ten rounds with both Santos Reyes and Aram Faniian before recording wide points wins. Petitjean became European champion at the second attempt in June, taking a majority nod in Paris against Samuel Molina.

21-year-old Azim was in complete control throughout here, and rubber-stamped his dominance in round five, as he dropped Petitjean with a body shot in round five, although the visitor bravely beat the count. Although Azim was docked a point for a low blow in round nine, it was academic, as a round later, he took another knockdown with another wicked body shot, and that prompted the champion’s corner to throw the towel in.

“I’m feeling amazing” said the new champion.

“(Petitjean) was really tough. I knew I couldn’t stop him in the early rounds, this was a development fight for me. I had to chop the tree down, and I did that”.

In the nominal main event, Tyler Denny (18-2-3, KO1) took his first ever stoppage win, as he halted Matteo Signani (32-7-3, KO12) in the eighth round of their contest to capture the European middleweight title. It was a pretty bizarre ending to the fight, as Signani, cut over his left eye, took an eternity to get out of his corner for the eighth round, and his corner had seen enough, leading to the referee stopping the bout.

Richard Riakporhe (17-0, KO13) moved a big step closer to a WBO world cruiserweight title shot against Chris Billam-Smith, as he overwhelmed Dylan Bregeon (13-5-1, KO3) for a second round stoppage win. A sweeping right hand dropped Bregeon in round two, and a whirlwind attack on the restart forced the Frenchman’s corner to step onto the ring apron before the fight was stopped.

Rhys Edwards (15-0, KO4) took a big step up in class, and took a ten round points win against Brad Foster (15-3-2, KO5) over ten rounds at featherweight. The Welshman took a 97-94 verdict from the referee.

Dylan Cheema (9-2, KO2) is finding his career going in reverse since winning a Boxxer tournament in 2022, and the Coventry native was upset by Robin Zamora (-24, KO10) who was adjudged a worthy 59-56 winner in their lightweight contest.

The show opener was scored a draw, as Tion Gibbs (10-1-1, KO0) and Efstathios Antonas (5-2-2, KO2) couldn’t be separated after six rounds at super lightweight.

Super featherweight novice Gully Powar (7-0, KO1) extended his unbeaten run, winning all four rounds against Engel Gomez (8-20-2, KO4).